The Founders

Joe Gradwell and Alex Brown founded social first marketing agency Campfire after meeting and fostering a healthy rivalry at Social Chain. In the final episode of the podcast, Alex and Joe are now telling their founding story. They explain what led them to starting their own competing agency; how they landed on their company values, which includes the ‘no d*ck head’ rule; how they romanticised their business and how that manifested into probation passing fireworks. To keep up with Alex and Joe’s plans for the future, follow  the team behind The Founders.

Jens Knoop’s passion for hot chocolate led him to found Knoops in 2013 with only one store. Now, with more than 10 stores nationwide and an online range, you can now consider Jens Knoops, as the modern day Willy Wonka.  Jens explains how while researching as part of his previous job, he stumbled across the ‘little luxuries’ market - which when paired with his nostalgic love of chocolate, led him to starting Knoops. Knoops battled with the covid pandemic and so Jens shares exactly what he thinks startups should be focusing on in their early days to ensure they have a diverse revenue stream. He also shares valuable insights into how he diversified their revenue streams when faced with the adversity of the pandemic, and why startups should consider this from day 1.  Ahead of opening Knoops’ in Manchester, he shares what he’s doing to ensure the Knoops experience is the same in every store. Follow Knoops and the team behind The Founders.

What started out as a holiday became the foundation for a million pound business. Josh White was horrified by the number of plastic bottles covering beaches on a trip abroad and, with his co-founders, began the mission to reduce single use plastic with a fresh and forward-thinking approach.  Josh describes how they convinced investors that canned water wasn’t too radical, and the turning point with a little help from Sir David Attenborough himself; he also shares the sad impact that founding a company had on his mental health and how it links to their slogan ‘Don’t Bottle It’. Plus he discusses the exclusive details of their recent rebrand and how integral his personal brand has been to growing the company to new successes. Follow Josh White, Cano Water and the team behind The Founders.

Ever needed a service that didn’t exist? Back in 2000, Graham Hobson had just bought a digital camera and was bored of trekking back and forth to Boots with the copious pictures he took of his children… so he founded Photobox: A photo printing service that was the first of its kind and became a category leader in the UK market.  In this episode, Graham shares with Alex and Joe how he founded a multi-million pound company despite having zero aspirations to run his own business. He also divulges the low points of the first few years and how that affected his home life, and the unexpected reason why they bought MoonPig for £120 million.  He also shares why he wants to pay more tax, why it’s difficult to pitch ideas in today's economy, and how he is supporting startups in this phase of his career. Follow Graham, Photobox and the team behind The Founders. Links: The Lean Startup

When you’re starting a business, a question you might try and be answering for years is who you are as a business. So, how do you go about discovering the answer?  In this episode, Alex and Joe are joined by Trouva’s co-founder and former CEO Alex Loizou. Alex explains how he went from coder to C-Suite; and how Trouva has come to solve a huge problem for small businesses and customers alike. He also shares his biggest lessons to pass onto entrepreneurs and business owners; and he also shares how he forgets about work by “fighting for his life”.  Connect with Alex, and the team behind The Founders.

Ade Hassan had a lightbulb moment so good she couldn’t believe it hadn’t been done before: she had never been able to find a nude bra that matched her skin tone. So, she made it for herself and all the other women of colour who never had it before either.  In this conversation, Ade tells Alex and Joe about her business idea that consumed her, the incredible yet terrifying moment when Nubian Skin went viral before they had a single product to sell, and how they almost missed an iconic opportunity with Beyoncé.  Follow Ade, Nubian Skin and the team behind The Founders.

Simon Martin, the founder and head chef of mana, Manchester's first michelin star restaurant in four decades, is disrupting the restaunter landscape and pioneering a new way of eating out.  A man of great discipline, Simon discusses with Alex and Joe the stresses of setting up a restaurant with minimal business knowledge, the exclusive and mysterious process of receiving a Michelin star (and why no chef ever admits they want one), and an ultimatum from his long-term long-distance girlfriend which led him to creating his new legacy in Manchester. Simon is dedicated to carving out a unique identity and fighting against the expectations of the restaurant industry, something all business owners can learn from.   Follow Simon, mana and the team behind The Founders.  Chapter 1: The Founding Story (01:24) Chapter 2: New directions and being anti resturant (24:17) Chapter 3: Michelin start and defining moments (33:01)

After a successful career in finance and fintech, in 2016 Morten Toft Bech decided to pursue new passions not for money, but for the millions of people to be born after him. Alex and Joe explore the fascinating world of plant-based meat – including the decision Morten made behind which product to make first. He also delves into the challenges of keeping up with competition in a rapidly growing industry and discusses the negativity surrounding plant-based meat. Morten also provides valuable insights into securing investment and offers practical advice for startups, drawing from his experience as both a founder and investor.  Follow Morten, Meatless Farm and the team behind The Founders.  Chapter 1: The Founding Story (01:19) Chapter 2: The secret to securing investment (25:30) Chapter 3: Defining moments (43:29)

Despite not knowing much about wine initially, Heini Zacharissen has created the world’s largest wine community with over 60 million users on the Vivino app.  Alex and Joe ask Heini about how he built his enormous user base, how to sell yourself to investors without traditional expertise, and why creating FOMO can be your strongest tool.  Heini also shares how disruptive Vivino was to the wine industry, plus valuable insights on the mistakes to avoid when creating an app and where to find reliable feedback. Follow @heinizach, @Vivino and the team behind The Founders. Chapter 1: The Founding Story (01:15) Chapter 2: Advice on building apps, pitch decks and more (16:06) Chapter 3: Defining Moments (30:15)

Robin Hutson is one of the UK’s most successful and powerful hoteliers, but his story still comes with a lot of luck, sleepless nights and selling their own wine collections when they didn’t stock enough on opening night.  Robin recounts the terrifying prospect of putting up his own house in order to secure a bank loan, why despite having over 1,000 employees they still work like a small business, and what made him return to hotels after selling his first chain for £66 million.  Follow The Pig Hotels and the team behind The Founders.

You’d be hard pressed to find a more unique founding story than that of brothers Harry and Charlie Thuillier, the founders of low calorie ice cream brand, Oppo; this one features a word record attempt, kite buggies, and scavenging food… but you’ll just have to listen to find out how their story turned out to be to have an award winning ending. Harry and Charlie join Alex and Joe to share how they got the business going by telling a few white lies (and why often asking for forgiveness over permission is the only way to get it off the ground); why Charlie’s defining moment was finally convincing Harry to get on board; and why they turned down Dragon’s Den three times and what convinced them to say yes.  Follow Harry, Charlie, Oppo Brothers and the team behind The Founders.

ZOE is a company that at its heart wants to change lives, and co-founder George fully believes in that ethos. After being rejected from university 13 times, he leads with positivity and belief which he shares in this conversation.  One of Wired’s and Forbes’ hottest startups, ZOE is on a mission to improve gut health through their personalised advice by analysing your gut microbe, all through an at home test kit and their app.  Alex and Joe chat with George about why you should fall in love with problems, what business owners can learn from elite athletes and why he doesn’t necessarily see the 250,000 people waiting to get on the app is a good thing.  Follow George, ZOE and the team behind The Founders.

Worldwide, we throw away 40% of the food we produce, and Lucie Basch wanted to do something about it. TooGoodToGo offers a win-win solution for businesses and consumers to grab cheap food that would otherwise be thrown away.  Co-founder Lucie describes to Alex and Joe how she learnt from her experience in the food industry that she didn’t want to work for the current system, she wanted to make a new one.  She shares the story of what she promised to the first cafés to get on board with the app, and how TooGoodToGo’s revenue remains meaningful. Lucie also explains why you shouldn’t be too perfect too soon when building your business. Follow TooGoodToGo, Lucie and  the team behind The Founders.

Canopy & Stars’ don’t claim to have invented glamping; however since the launch of their curated site of unique outdoor stays in 2010, you only need to look at the Google trends to see it’s rise into the mainstream since.  Co-founder Tom Dixon chats with Alex and Joe about how he’s built a company based on integrity and authenticity, with every listing personally visited by one of the team. He shares how the covid pandemic and rise of staycation affected the business, and how they’re still navigating the change in consumer behaviour.  Tom also shares his thoughts on Airbnb, and why the bigger they get is only good for his business. Follow Canopy & Stars and the team behind The Founders.

With only £4,000, Rude Health started humbly with ingredients, supplies, and branded aprons. Now, a brand  sold worldwide, co-founder and Brand Director Camilla Barnard has overseen an incredible evolution of a business that started with the aim to make healthy food delicious.  Alex and Joe sit down with Camilla to discover how the simple sentiment of ‘Do I think this is brilliant?’ kicked off the journey; as well as the challenges of raising a young family and growing a new business. If you’re a business owner and are worried about the year ahead, Camilla shares a unique perspective and tangible advice from her time tackling the 2008 financial crisis during the business’ early days.  Camilla also discusses ways to adapt when they found themselves speaking to a whole new generation who were obsessed with plant based milk.  Follow Rude Health and the team behind The Founders.

From packing products in their kitchen, to a company of 40+, Absolute Collagen has built an authentic brand around helping people feel good about themselves. Co-founder Darcy Laceby joins Alex and Joe to share the story of their rapid growth, and how she navigates life with her co-founder: her mum, Maxine.  Darcy also shares the frustrations she faces being a young founder, including being mistaken for a marketing exec, and how she handled the company's rapid growth.  She also discusses her experience of leading the production for the brand’s first TV ad after only ever advertising on social media; and why authenticity is the strongest marketing tool.  Follow Darcy, Absolute Collagen and the team behind The Founders.

Sacha Lord left school with no A-Levels and no idea what he was going to do with his life. Yet, he would go on to run the biggest metropolitan festival in the UK and be the first ever Night Time Economy Advisor for Andy Burnham. Alex and Joe chat with Sacha about how he fell in love with Mancheter’s rave scene and how he has both been contributing and shaping it ever since.  He shares stories of how he started with blagging to get people through the doors, the scary and darker moments of working in , and how it all led to him being a pivotal part of Manchester’s nightlife scene with The Warehouse Project and Parklife.  He also gives advice to business owners as we enter a difficult couple of years, and he reveals whether or not he’d ever go into politics.  Follow Sacha and the team behind The Founders

Ellie Webb was frustrated at the lack of alcohol free options when going out during Dry Jan – and through this frustration, Caleño was born.  Alex and Joe sit down with Ellie, Caleño’s founder and Chief Joy Maker, to discuss the challenges of building a business as a side hustle. Ellie goes in depth about what it costs to get a business up and running; the loneliness she felt being a solo female founder; and the incredible story on how her sober spirit was picked up by Sainsburys.  Ellie also divulges her most defining moment, when she made the difficult yet ultimately rewarding decision to give up the London life she thought she’d always wanted.  Follow Ellie, Caleño, and the team behind The Founders.

Home decor brand Lick happened to time their launch on day 1 of lockdown, when 48% of us ended up making home improvements to our home. However, in this conversation with Lick’s CEO and co-founder Lucas London, it’s clear that this coincidence was only a small part of their meteoric rise to becoming one of the biggest competitors in the space.  Alex and Joe speak to Lucas about why he’s glad he waited to start a business, and the lessons he learnt working in finance during the 2008 crash. He discusses the conflict of building a high growth business while still having a supportive environment for his staff. Lucas also shares his most valuable failures, and his advice to you going into the challenges of 2023.   Connect with Lucas, follow Lick and the team behind The Founders.

Peter has founded four businesses – three have failed. However, his fourth venture Dishpatch is thriving and giving access to incredible London restaurants to the entire UK.  In this conversation, Peter shares the story behind his entrepreneurial spirit and how he persevered in the face of failure.  He also has an open and thorough discussion about the logistical side of Dishpatch; what his plan for growth was and how he succeeded.  Connect with Peter, follow Dishpatch and the team behind The Founders.

Oli White may be best known for his YouTube presence,  which has over 2.5 million followers; but in 2020 he founded UNIQUE CBD – a premium and science backed CBD brand. So, how did he go from the height of YouTube stardom to a brand that barely mentions his involvement?  Alex and Joe chat with Oli about his YouTube career, how that has prepared him for marketing a business and what led him to find an interest in CBD.  Oli also shares the thoughts behind the decision to take a more behind the scenes role, what was surprising to him about starting a business, and why TikTok is a must-have tool for startups.  Follow Oli, UNIQUE CBD and the team behind The Founders.

If you’re on TikTok, you have probably seen an ad for Wild sustainable deodorant – they are everywhere. So how do you build a brand that performs well for the customer and excels in the social space? Wild’s co-founder Charlie Bowes-Lyon joins Alex and Joe on the podcast to share his founding story. Charlie shares the fascinating decision process behind Wild’s inception; whether products need to be created with social media in mind and he offers crucial advice on how to grow your business during hard times.  Follow Charlie, Wild and the team behind The Founders.

What question could you ask yourself to understand what makes your brand unique? In this episode, Alex and Joe are joined by Nicola Elliott, the Founder of NEOM Organics - one of the first and fastest growing wellbeing brands in the UK, which specialises in 100% natural fragrances to boost your wellbeing.  Nicola talks about the pivotal moment she decided to pursue her own business over her career as a magazine editor, how she struggles to see success even today and her guiding principles for building a brand.  Follow Nicola @nicolaelliottneom and @NEOM Connect with Alex and Joe on Linkedin, and say hi at @campfireagency_

Launching 7th December 2022. From the team behind Breaking Social and The Deep Dive comes a brand new podcast, which finds out the incredible start up stories of some of the most exciting brands and businesses as told by the founders themselves. 

If you’re not using email marketing as a key channel, then you’re missing out on utilising one of the most effective options to reach and engage your audience. Mailchimp’s Senior Director or Product Marketing Jamal Miller joins us on the podcast to dive into how to create impactful emails, how to use targeting to maximise your results and where to begin if you’re starting from scratch. Follow Mailchimp and for more of what's happening at Campfire, follow @campfireagency_

Launching a new app is no mean feat but once it's launched, where do you get your users? In this episode, Julia Mallaby, co-founder of the travel discovery app, Bimble, joins Alex and Joe to explain how they managed to grow their user base despite launching 3 months before the global pandemic and having a Ukrainian team directly affected by the war. Download the Bimble app and check them out on socials @bimbleapp and of course for more Campfire, it's @campfireagency_!

If you don't know what web3 is, how to invest in NFT's or what the creator economy may become - This one's for you because as marketers, you don't need reminding of the rapidly changing social landscape. So this week, joining Alex and Joe is Catty Berragan, the Creative Director at thirdweb, a company that makes creating Web3 apps, easy. With Web3 still being a hypothetical and futuristic projection of what the internet may become - why is it so important that marketers understand what might happen to the internet in years to come? Catty, an early adopter in crypto and NFTs, provides clear and digestible explainers about what web3 is, how it will create more creators and how to invest in NFTs that will hold value. Follow Catty on Twitter @cathaluk and for Campfire, it's @campfireagency_.

To find out how livestreams will evolve in the near future, you only have to look east. In part 2 of this dive into livestreaming, Alex and Joe take a look into how China's e-commerce market is using lives to drive enviable sales and why the east is so much further ahead than western markets. They also share the tell-tale signs showing eastern trends coming over to the west, how you can build a cost-effective, sustainable and impactful live streaming strategy and how to scale your live audience. For more of what's happening at Campfire, follow @campfireagency_

If you've been wondering where the value lies in livestreaming and how you can use it to achieve big results - click play, the answers are here. In this episode, Alex and Joe dig into their extensive experience in producing and executing branded live streams on YouTube, Tiktok, Twitter and Facebook to tell you their secrets to success... They discuss the strategy that led to them breaking their client's website sales record, how they outline creative that generates 40k comments in 1 hour and how they choose which platform is best to go live on for the biggest impact. For more of what's happening at Campfire, follow @campfireagency_

Josh Benge has tackled social media for some of the biggest worldwide brands – his CV impressively states previous roles at KFC and Brewdog before joining Deliveroo as their Global Head of Social Media in January 2022. Josh joins Alex and Joe to share some of his most impactful campaigns across his career, how Deliveroo works to understand different social media patterns for different countries, and why you need to stop pushing the same content out onto every channel. Follow Josh and Deliveroo and if you want the latest Campfire updates, it’s @campfireagency_

SoulCycle is more than just a spin class, it’s described as an “experience” and is as much about giving you an emotional release as well as a physical one. After dominating the big cities in the US, the phenomenon has made its way over to the UK.  Roisin Branch, Vice President of Marketing at SoulCycle chats to Alex and Joe about knowing why London was ready for the move, how they created their cult-like customer base, and how they spark conversation with reactivity over bigger campaigns.  Follow Roisin and SoulCycle, and for more Campfire it’s @campfireagency_

The demand for sustainable clothing is bigger than ever and By Rotation ensures that you don’t have to break the bank, feed into mass consumption or compromise on quality in order to wear a new outfit. Founder Eshita Kabra joins Alex and Joe on the podcast to share why renting other people’s clothes is the future for the sustainability of fashion, what inspired her to build By Rotation while working in finance and how you can achieve big results with a small team.  Follow Eshita and By Rotation @arentyoueshita @byrotationofficial and for updates from Campfire it’s @campfireagency_

TikTok has evolved a lot since its inception – brands are flocking towards it because they feel like they have to, and then often failing in front of an unforgiving audience.  After outlining their experience in ‘How we mastered TikTok’, Alex and Joe share some fundamental takeaways to step up your content, how to cut through the noise no matter what your budget and why you ultimately need to respect the platform.  For more of what's happening at Campfire, follow @campfireagency_

In 2021, TikTok was the world's most visited domain – beating Google out of the top spot. So, if you're running a business or managing a brand's account, it's an important platform to be doing right. In this episode, Alex and Joe share some award winning insights into the platform. They discuss how they discovered TikTok and how they knew it was going to be big, plus how they created some of their most successful campaigns with the likes of The INKEY List. For more of what's happening at Campfire, follow @campfireagency_

In this episode, Alex and Joe are joined by Vice President of Marketing at WeTransfer, Julia Shapiro. Although WeTransfer could easily be a webpage where you simply arrive, upload and send a file – they’re not, they do things differently and so instead, you’re greeted with incredible artwork, interactive full sized ads or innovative original content. But how is this also reflected in their marketing efforts, that so far have maintained their top spot in the productivity and file sharing industry? Julia shares how WeTransfer’s creative strategy acquires new users, why it’s important for them to promote and support the creative industry with their platform and how they work with brands to build ad campaigns that are like no-other… Connect with Julia Shapiro and for more Campfire it's @campfireagency_

Louise Troen, the VP of International Marketing & Communications at Headspace, has an incredible CV.  She started out working at behemoth PR and Publicity company Freud’s, before becoming one of the first employees at Bumble where she was responsible for growing brand awareness in the UK.  Following this, she headed up the marketing at Formula E, where she was then headhunted by Headspace, tasked with the challenge of expanding their global presence. In this episode Alex and Joe chat to Louise about her marketing principles, how she has paved such a huge path for herself as a mission-driven person and how she takes brands from new product start-up to global leaders within their space. It's @campfireagency_ to catch up with Campfire and the team.

Jody Raynsford accidentally started a cult – after co-founding Bad Boy Running, it grew a cult-like audience that has led fans to getting tattoos with the slogan and a Christmas number 1…  However, when we think of the word ‘cult’ it isn’t usually in a positive sense… but what can we learn from cults in order to engage our audiences to the maximum effect?  In this episode, Jody explains the difference between a community and a cult, the strategy he used to keep his audience standing to attention, and how you can take your brand from basic to following you to the end of the earth.  You can follow Jody @jodyraynsford and find more from Campfire @campfireagency_ 

Vikki Ross is a leading Copywriter who consults her global clients, such as Sky TV and Spotify, on their brand and tone of voice strategies. In this episode, Vikki shares her insights with Alex and Joe, touching on why it’s so important for brands to nail their tone of voice to be able to engage effectively with an audience, how copywriting forms the personality of a brand and why a consistent slogan is an important, yet often overlooked, brand asset. For more Copywriting tips, follow Vikki @vikkirosswrites on Twitter and for more Campfire, it’s @campfireagency_.

For Liz Matthews and Jordan Mitchell, the co-founders of Good Culture, representation and cultural relevance is the primary driving force behind their work in the PR and communications world. Good Culture is a cultural PR strategy company that works with brands on a small and global scale to build and execute strategies that positively reflect and add to today's cultural conversation. Their clients include Good American, SKIMS and Victoria’s Secret. Whether it’s casting a nationwide campaign or transforming an international brand’s image, they encourage a truly progressive media where everyone can see themselves represented in the biggest publications. In this episode, Liz and Jordan speak to Alex and Joe about how to build a cultural strategy for brands of any size, and how they go beyond the realism of traditional PR by supporting campaigns that actively contribute to culture. Follow @goodcultureinc and find more from Campfire @campfireagency_ LINKS: Movember June Sarpong - The Power of Privilege

Rory Sutherland is the Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK, one of the oldest and most prolific advertising and marketing companies in the world.  Rory’s approach to creating original and impactful campaigns puts human behaviour and psychology ahead of data.  He believes that data that’s based on the past should be used with caution when making decisions that are designed to attract, acquire or keep customers.  In this episode, Rory speaks to Alex and Joe about his latest book 'Transport for Humans', his psychology-first, data-second approach and how he applies this to build impactful marketing campaigns. If you’re needing a creative boost or you need to reframe your approach to an upcoming campaign - this is the episode for you. Follow Rory @rorysutherland on Twitter and keep up with Campfire @campfireagency_

Formula 1 Netflix show, Drive To Survive, is one of the most popular series on the platform but it’s also part of a wider strategy to engage with a younger, more diverse audience. And it’s largely thanks to Ellie Norman. Ellie is the former, yet first ever, Formula 1 Director of Marketing and Communications. Ellie was brought in by Formula 1 to transform the sport and it’s fan engagement, so in this conversation she shares how Drive To Survive came to be, how she approached the new role, how she led their marketing team and how built a strategy, designed to change the sport’s perception. It’s @campfireagency_ on Instagram if you can’t wait to see who’s up next week…

We’ve got a secret, we’ve been keeping something from you… We’ve come to the end of season 1 and in this bonus episode, Alex and Joe reveal the secret final question that’s been answered by every guest at the end of their interview. Yes, we’ve kept their responses from you… until now. Find out what the minds behind MOB Kitchen, Ooni and Social Chain had to say, plus big news about the future of Breaking Social. Keep up to date with Campfire and Breaking Social @campfireagency_ on Instagram.

Ooni pizza ovens - If you don’t have one, you know someone who does. They give you Neapolitan pizzas at home but the brand seemed to suddenly come out of nowhere... But how? Co-founder of Ooni, Darina Garland, shares their start-up story, how they built their brand into a household name and why being authentic and transparent with their customers is so important. A truly inspirational story for the brand builders and founders of product-based businesses. Find Ooni online @oonihq and it’s @campfireagency_ on Instagram for all the latest on Breaking Social

After his first dating app failed to gain traction, Matt McNeill Love, went on to co-found a new dating app called Thursday. Unlike it’s predecessor it’s a huge hit - but how and why? Matt chats to Alex and Joe to discuss how their guerrilla marketing strategy enables a steady flow of viral posts, how his failings led to success and how the @thursdaydating instagram page has become the most engaged dating app page in the world. For an app that only works one day per week, you’d think people would forget and lose interest but it’s in fact the total opposite, with them selling out in person dating events across the world. If you need inspo for a marketing campaign or strategy that has personality, listen up. You can find Matt and Thursday online @matthewmcneilllove and @thursdaydating And it’s @campfireagency_ on Instagram for all the latest on Breaking Social

Personal Trainer, Alice Liveing has amassed an Instagram following of over 700k through sharing her workouts and fitness advice online but in the last few years, she’s launched her fitness app Give Me Strength and her approach to social media has changed completely. Alice opens up to Alex and Joe about how her content has evolved from a focus on muscles to mental health after realising that social media, including her content, was fuelling unhealthy exercise and eating habits. She also shares her tips on building a large following online and her journey from influencer to entrepreneur. You can find Alice online @aliceliveing and @givemestrengthapp. And it’s @campfireagency_ on Instagram for all the latest on Breaking Social.

Take a peek into the way Steven Bartlett's mind works when it comes to marketing, entrepreneurship and what it takes to build a multi-million pound business... Steven is the founder of Social Chain, Host of the Diary of a CEO podcast and is the latest Dragon ‘in the Den’.  This episode sees him open up about the hard-truths of making it, how powerful being ‘bad’ can be at the beginning of your journey and how he’s gone from Wallpark, his first business, to being a household name. You find Steve on Instagram and Twitter, and it's @campfireagency_ to keep up with the latest from us.

We’ve all been lured in by those cheesy, carby, delicious looking food-porn videos on social media but be honest… have you ever actually made one of the recipes? Well, Ben Lebus is here to change that. After founding MOB Kitchen at University, Ben has gone on to release 5 cookbooks, collaborated with major global food brands and has amassed a following of almost 1m. This podcast explores what it takes to build an online brand, how to continue when it feels like nobody's listening and Ben’s plans for the future. You can find Ben and MOB online @blouislebus and @mobkitchen And it’s @campfireagency_ on Instagram for all the latest on Breaking Social

Community is key when it comes to growing and engaging with an audience online but it does not come easily. This episode is for the community builders (and the wannabes) amongst us. Sharmadean Reid MBE is the founder of The Stack World, a members platform dedicated to connecting and inspiring women and supporting them economically. She previously worked as a brand consultant spotting trends for the bigwigs at global brands like Nike and ASOS before building the extremely popular WAH Nails in 2009. It’s safe to say that she is to thank for the nail art trend that’s still booming 12 years on… *That’s* how good she is. Find Sharmadean online @sharmadeanreid and @thestack.world. It’s @campfireagency_ on Instagram if you can’t wait to see who’s up next week...

Great Influence is an agency, founded by Ash Jones, that specialises in personal branding.  Great Influence boasts clients who are the founders of global brands such as MyProtein, and business leaders and speakers such as marketing behemoth, Steven Bartlett. Ash knows how to get brands, business owners and creators big and small noticed in a busy online landscape. This episode will give you the advice and tools you need to get your personal brand off the ground and why you can benefit from people knowing your name. You can find Ash and the team online at @greatinfluence_.

Overnight growth on social media is rarely a reality for many but for the founders of Feel Good Club, wives Aimie and Kiera Lawlor-Skillen, it was a well earned growth-spurt. Feel Good Club have captivated their audience on Instagram by knowing how to make content that really hits the spot when times are tough and our mental health is at an all time low. This episode tells the story of Aimie and Kiera and their journey from mental health passion project to a bustling coffee shop and events space in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Check them out across socials, @wearefeelgoodclub and at www.feelgoodclub.com.And remember to keep your eyes peeled for sneak previews @campfireagency_!

Breaking Social is the brand new podcast from the award-winning marketing agency,  Campfire. Meet the founders of Campfire and hosts of Breaking Social, Alex Brown and Joe Gradwell, as they give you a sneak preview into what this new season has in store for you...